Coaches, scorekeepers and parents are encouraged to report youth sports events on this interactive blog. Selected reports will be used in print as the youth sports highlight of the day on the Plus section cover.

Youth sports for the week ending July 20

To report your results, just add your report as a comment here. Look for information from the youth sports blog in the newspaper every day. Check the daily youth sports highlight on the bottom left corner of Page 1.

13 Responses to Youth sports for the week ending July 20

Novato’s 13 year Old babe Ruth All Star’s earned a second place finish at the State Tournament this week in Eureka. Novato needed to beat Vallejo twice Thursday, and got going with a 7-3 win. Joey Olsen continued his pitching mastery in the tournament with five shutout innings. Kalvin Carr keyed Novato’s sixth inning rally with a long double, and Danny Rose added an RBI Single. Patrick Conroy drove a line drive down the left field line for a double to start a seventh inning rally. Dominic Balestrieri pitched the final two innings of the game putting Novato into the Championship Game. However, Vallejo prevailed with a 6-1 win in the second game to take the Championship. Patrick Fairbanks drove in the only run for Novato who fought hard to overcome coming out of the losers bracket, and having to play more games. The kids played hard, and Danny Rose was presented with the Tournament’s Sportsmanship Award. Congratulations to the kids, and to the coaching staff of Pete Balestrieri, Jerry Goff, and Paul Demartini.

Correcting game details – Steven Demartini pitched the final two inning of the first game Thursday win, not Balestrieri, so it shoudl read :
Novato needed to beat Vallejo twice Thursday, and got going with a 7-3 win. Joey Olsen continued his pitching mastery in the tournament with five shutout innings. Kalvin Carr keyed our sixth inning rally with a long double, and Danny Rose added an RBI Single. Patrick Conroy drove a line drive down the left field line for a double to start a seventh inning rally. Steven DeMartini pitched the final two innings of the game putting Novato into the Championship Game. However, Vallejo prevailed with a 6-1 win to take the Championship. Patrick Fairbanks drove in the only run for Novato who fought hard to overcome coming out of the losers bracket, and having to play more games. The kids played hard, and Danny Rose was presented with the Tournament’s Sportsmanship Award. Congratulations to the kids, and to the coaching staff of Pete Balestrieri, Jerry Goff, and Paul Demartini.

Here’s details on the game Novato won to get to the Championship round:
Novato reached the championship game and a rematch with Vallejo with a 6-3 victory over Hayward. Steven DeMartini, Dominic Balestrieri,and Joey Olsen combined on the mound for the win. They were backed by an amazing five double plays. Novato used a four run fifth inning to get the win keyed by Ryan Ficker’s lead off single, and an RBI double from Balestrieri and a long RBI triple by De Martini.

The Marin Swim League concluded their 2009 season on Saturday with an exciting day of records, best times, and competitive swimming. The meet was hosted by the Strawberry Seals. Congratulations to Strawberry for a job well done!

The Marin FC U17 girls soccer team returned from Scandinavia after great performances in two international tournaments. Marin FC won its first 5 games against Norwegian and Swedish teams in the Dana Cup in Frederikshavn, Denmark, outscoring their opponents by 33 to 1. In the Championship match against an American team, Marin FC came back from a 1-0 deficit, after waiting out a thunder and lightning delay, tying the game in the closing seconds of regulation and then scoring the game winner in overtime. Maddie Boston was named the championship MVP.
In the larger Gothia Youth World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, with 116 teams competing in the U17 age group, Marin FC started strong, winning all three of their opening matches by a combined score of 15-0. After winning its next three playoff matches, Marin FC played in a semi-final game, with the game tied 0-0 after regulation. Marin FC finally lost in penalty kicks 5-4, ending their quest to win both championships.

Twenty nine North Bay Aquatics swimmers, nearly 80% of the team’s senior swimmers, qualified for the prestigious 2008 Speedo Summer Sectional Championship Swim Series held in Bakersfield July 16-20. The Sectionals swim meet showcases some of the finest swimming talent in the West with over 900 elite swimmers from 100 California & Nevada teams. The fastest Sectional swimmers will go on to compete at the Junior Nationals in Minneapolis in early August. Sectionals are swum in an Olympic size 50 meter pool.

Bombers Baseball Club 13U Started their Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat Colorado by winning 10-0 over the Katy Stallions from Texas. Michael Keyes pitched 4 innings striking out 2 and throwing only 25 total pitches. “I haven’t seen anything quite like it” said coach Matt Pollock. “He’s been throwing extremely well for us this year but this was almost unfair as he commanded the strike zone from the start. He threw more pitches waming up than he did in the game”. Keyes faced 14 batters and 11 of them swung at a first pitch recording 12 outs. “Usually a pitcher will have a couple really good innings then have a tough one and it evens out but he’s just been great getting guys to hit ground ball after ground ball” said coach Jay Bayler.

Shortstop Logan Stone contributed defensively by recording four 6-3 put outs on four consecutive pitches. Stone also added a hit and a stolen base.

Hitting stand outs were Trevor Shine who went 3-4 with a double, 3 stolen bases and 3 runs scored. Dominic Bernhard was 2-3 with a walk, an RBI triple in the first and a two RBI single that started the rally in the 4th inning. Michael Bentivoglio 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The Bombers took advantage of almost every miscue by scoring runs. The team stole 11 bases forcing the Texas team out of position on numerous occassions. The Bombers will Continue play Tuesday against the Chatfield Chargers from Colorado. Ryan Burke will start for the Bombers.

The Marin Pirates Swim Team had an outstanding showing at the USA Swimming 2008 Speedo Championship Series Western Zone Gold Summer Sectional Championship held
July 16-20 in Bakersfield, CA.

The Marin Pirates finished 7th with 307.5 points in the Medium Team division of the meet. In addition, the Pirates finished 17th overall among the 100 California and Nevada teams at the meet.

Seven Pirates scored individually (24th place or better) in the long course (50 meter pool) competition. The team was led by Kathryn Murphy (Olympic Trial contestant and Marin County High School Female Swimmer of the Year). Kathryn scored in 2 swims in the finals, placing 4th in the 50 meter free (:26.86) and 7th in the 100 meter free (:58.43).

Josh Cutts placed 5th in the 200 meter breast (2:24.04). He also recorded a 7th place in the 100 meter breast (1:08.11).

After an early breakfast Tuesday the Bombers Baseball Club 13U team took on the powerhouse Utah Horns (74-14). The Horns came out quickly scoring 3 in the first inning. The bombers came back with 2 runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame to keep it close.

Starting pitcher Ryan Burke then held the Horns scoreless in the second putting them down in order. The Bombers came out swinging scoring 7 taking advantage of 3 walks and then putting pressure on the defense by stealing 4 bases.

Now ahead 9-3 the Bombers turned the ball over to Logan stone. “The pitching rules are such that you want to use everyone sparingly in the first four games because of inning restrictions” said coach Bayler. Stone went 2 innings giving up 5 runs, only 1 earned before turning the ball over to Brandon Hagerla to finish the game.

The Bombers again used pressure on the defense to open up holes to hit through. Offensive standouts were Trevor Shine who was walked 3 times and got on after a dropped third strike beating the throw to first. “Shine has been a spark plug for us” said Coahc Pollock. He gets on base and scores ( 3runs against the Horns) while helping his teammates by opening holes for them to hit the ball through”. Dominic Bernhard again was 3-4 with a double, 2 RBI’s, 3 runs and 1 SB. Logan Stone was 0-1 but walked twice scoring 2 runs and stealing 2 bases. Kevin Jordan 1-1, 2 BB and 2 RBI’s contributed to the scoring. Ryan Burke 1-2 2BB, 2 Runs, 1 RBI and 1 SB along with Michael Bentivoglio 1-4, 1Run, 2 RBI’s rounded out the offense for the Bombers in the 4th inning by plating an additional 4 runs.

The Bombers are 2-0 in pool play with their next game scheduled for Wednesday at 2:45 mountain time at Strawberry field in Steam Boat Colorado. “The nice thing is we haven’t used a lot of innings from any one pitcher, so we look to be in pretty good shape heading into the final pool play contest” said coach Bayler. The Bombers have a plus 11 rating for their seeding out of a possible 14. Currently they are ranked 4th over all out of the 40 teams playing at the Triple Crown World Series.

The Bombers haven’t faired well at 8:00 am games this year but getting a win this morning was special because the Horns are considered to be one of the better teams in the tournament. The Bombers will be well rested for Wednesdays game so stay tuned for the results later.

The Bombers Baseball Club 13U team came to Strawberry field in Steam Boat Colorado for their final game in pool play prior to seeding ranked as the number 4 seed over all. Coach Bayler told the boys that should they win this game by seven or more runs it would secure at the very least a 4 seed over all. “You need to focus on the job at hand. I want the next 3 hours to be about baseball only”. During warm ups the coaches were concerned and took the boys to a near by track and made them run sprints. If you don’t want to warm up properly than we can do this the hard way said coach Bayler it is up to you. Fortunately for the Bombers parents and fans the players got the messege.

The Bombers won the toss to be the home team and sent Logan Stone to the mound. They took the field against the Chatfield Chargers and never looked back winning the game 10-0 by the slotter rule in 5 innings. Stone pitched 2 scoreless innings with his only blemish being an error by the first baseman. Stone faced 7 batters and didn’t allow a run before turning the ball over to Dominic Bernhard who pitched 3 innings allowing i hit and zero runs. “Stone and Bernhard are a great duo as Stone throws submarine style and Bernhard is an over the top flame thrower”. said Bayler The two combined for a 1 hit shut out that keeps the bombers in a strong position to compete for the Triple Crown World Series Title.

The Bombers started the scoring in the bottom half of the first inning. “We told the team to get this over with quickly by opening up a big lead and winning by the run rule”. The bombers scored 5 runs plating Brandon Hagerla HBP, Dominic Bernhard FC, Ryan Burke BB, Michael Keyes 2b and Ryan Costello who scored on a Andrew Bantly single.

The bombers went down in order in the second before finishing the game by scoring 2 in the third and 3 in the forth. Hitting stars today were Brandon Hagerla 1-2 with an RBI triple and 2 runs scored. Dominic Bernhard 2-3, 2 RBI’s, Ryan Burke 2-2, BB and 4 RBI’s, Michael Keyes 1-2, Double, 2 RBI’s, Ryan Costello 1-3, 3 RBI’s, Andrew Bantly 1-1, 1 RBI and Kevin Jordan 1-1.

“The defense was outstanding today! as the team made some spectacular plays to keep Stone’s bid for a no-hitter alive. Michael Bentivoglio made 2 great plays at third and Michael Keyes in center field took a line drive single and turned it into a long ground ball out by throwing out the runner at first. “Thats new for me said coach Pollock, I’ve never seen that before. It was just an outstanding play to focus on the runner and the ball before letting go laser beam throw to Costello at first. Danny Nilsen contributed with 3 assists at second base.

Chatfield never got going as the bombers defense played well behind Stone and Bernhard’s brilliant pitching. The game ended on a routine 6-3 ground out but gave the bombers the victory they needed to jump into the 3rd seed over all out of 40 teams.

Thursday the Bombers will compete in a skills competition that will be their only action. Friday will start the actual tournament with the Bombers taking on Colorado Spring Knights. We’ve seen some really good teams at the tournament and are looking forward to competing the rest of the way. The bombers would need to win two games on Friday Saturday and Sunday to win the title out right. Should the lose a game the road would get much more difficult.

“We haven’t used all our pitchers yet so I think we’re in good shape” coach Bayler added. We need to stay focused on what we came out here to do and that’s play baseball.

Stay tuned as we’ll try and keep everyone back home up to date on what we are doing and when our next game will be.

The 2008 San Anselmo All-Star tournaments began Wed 7/16/08 with the 11u tournament, followed by the 10u and 12u tournaments going this week through Sunday July 27.

The SABA 11u team made it to the Championship game Sunday, but fell to a very good Oakland Stealth team who took home the 1st place trophy.

On Monday night, Fresno State slugger Steve Detwiler threw out the first pitch of the 12u tourney, below are some highlights form the first few days of action:

7/20/08- The San Anselmo 10u All-star team started their annual tournament off with a big win over San Francisco 19-4, while the Albany Swarm topped El Cerrito 16-1 and the Pacifica Gold beat Rohnert Park 21-3 in the 10&under SABA tournament that started Sunday and goes through this Sunday at Memorial Park.

In a rare display of martial arts excellence, West America Tae Kwon Do of Mill Valley sent 13 competitors to the 2008 AAU National Tae Kwon Do Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, and was awarded 13 individual gold medals, 4 silvers, 3 bronzes and 2 group gold medals. Each competitor came home with at least one medal.

Master Roger Carlon’s signature long, low stances and high, locked kicks were eye openers throughout the tournament. He is especially pleased by the ability of his students to display grace in traditional forms, and laser quickness in point sparring, all under the pressure of national competition.

Group forms 35 years and up division gold medalists:
Team West America (Roger Carlon Jr., Patrick LePelch, Patrick Siu)

In the adult division (18 yrs. and up), Patrick LePelch also took home gold in both forms and point sparring. Sylvester Youngblood took gold in point sparring. Roger Carlon Jr. took gold in forms. Patrick Siu took silver in both forms and point sparring.

West America Tae Kwon Do is dedicated to teaching youth discipline, concentration and confidence through martial arts training.

Next years competition will be held in July 2009, and at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.